Nevada National Guard unveils new indoor facility

RENO, Nev. (MyNews4.com & KRNV) -- From data facilities to drone research, Nevada is on the forefront of technology. Now, the Nevada National Guard is taking a lead, as well.

The Air Guard has a new climate-controlled modular shooting facility. It's the first and only one in the National Guard.

The new Modular Containerized Small Arms Training Set Facility has a long name, but a simple purpose. It is designed to allow guardsmen to meet annual training qualifications and prepare for deployment. For the first time, they can do it without leaving base.

"This is a really special facility that we have here and I'm very proud that we do," said Governor Brian Sandoval.

The Nevada Guard has a new tactical weapon in its arsenal: a 6,000-square foot training facility.

Governor Sandoval says it is a big win for the Silver State. "It's made by a company in North Las Vegas, Nevada that is owned by veterans, that is run by veterans."

Master Sergeant Jason Huth said it can prepare guardsmen for anything. "It's a scenario-based system. We can also just shoot at plain paper targets."

Staff Sergeant Anthony Haley is in awe of what the facility can do. "It's just limited by imagination. Spellbound. This is (in)describable."

"You can't just single out one thing," said Sandoval. "This facility is absolutely beautiful."

But it's not just pretty. It's also effective. "It's a zero surface danger zone," said Huth. "Means it's fully enclosed. No round can escape."

That means it's safe on base, so they no longer have to drive to remote locations, which saves them time and money on travel. "We can just walk right across the street from our training classroom and conduct our training. Thus saving thousands of man hours," said Huth.

Sometimes the lead time is short before deployment. "The Air Force has a policy where just in time. You shoot right before you deploy," explained Haley. "And in my opinion that sends you down there with the information fresh in your mind."

Haley says that training saves something even more important: lives. "It's the difference between you coming home and not in a lot of cases."

Since the new facility is totally indoors, mother nature will not hold them back from training, either. Which is important here, where it can snow year round.